Papahanaumokuakea 11 th Pacific Science Inter-congress Papeete, Tahiti March 2009
Biological and Biogeographic Significance A few Monumental facts Largest fully protected marine protected area on Earth ~140,000 square miles; Larger than 46 of the 50 U.S. States, and larger than all U.S. National Parks combined; Home to over 7,000 marine species and nesting area for over 14 million seabirds; The most extensive and healthy coral reefs in the U.S.; Nesting area for 90% of all threatened Hawaiian green sea turtles; A vast, predator dominated coral reef ecosystem unique in all the world. James Watt
A few Monumental facts A few Monumental facts Cultural and Historic Significance Over 140 Native Hawaiian cultural sites on Mokumanamana and Nihoa. Both islands are on the State and National Registers of Historic Places; Historically and currently a training ground for celestial navigation; Andy Collins Na alehu Anthony Home to some of the best preserved shallow water shipwrecks, many from the 1800 s. An estimated total of sixty ship losses and sixty-seven aircraft losses are within Monument boundaries; most have yet to be found. Battle of Midway National Memorial on Midway Atoll commemorating a battle widely believed to be the turning point in the war for the Pacific. James Watt
World Distances to PMNM
Our Sea of Islands: Re-connecting with Oceania
Our Sea of Islands : A Regional Forum Honolulu, Hawai i
International Communique : Primary Outcome Strengthen and promote TK and values and respect local management structures, customary rights and practices Ensure science and management is driven by local/regional needs and incorporates local and traditional knowledge Build indigenous capacity and foster peer learning exchanges across Oceania Strengthen strategic alliances; build support for Pacific MMAs Support World Heritage; promote global recognition of cultural seascapes
Why Traditional Knowledge? Equally valid knowledge system (cosmology & epistemology) Inherently utilitarian & management-driven Inclusive of social and physical sciences Inherently dynamic and adaptive Knowledge is place-based/ values transcend Western scientific approaches alone aren t enough
Intergenerational Knowledge Exchange Ho okena, Hawai i
Exchange Goals To build relationships between generations To preserve cultural integrity of knowledge systems To provide culturally grounded instruction Sustain community-based resource management Model and mentor the youth to take on new kuleana Build an Oceanic Community Resource Network
Exchange Outcomes Greater trust between communities and agencies indigenous representation Strengthening of cultural knowledge systems Multiple expressions of culture holistic Exposure and messaging to wider audience Strengthened bond with Oceanic cousins Developing a web-based network and funding resources
Cultural/TK Research 2008
Field Research & Expeditions Two week educator expedition Opihi monitoring protocol development Cultural Health Index/Coral Reef Assessment Development of a lunar calendar, mapping seasonal distribution and abundance of key food species Survey of local meteorological conditions and effects on fishery productivity Study of ancestral shark migration patterns and behaviors Cultural archeological study of human settlement
Expedition Outcomes Long term relationships people to place Strengthened network of Oceanic MPAs Foundation for future TK initiatives Furthering cultural research priorities Documentary film in development Long term community partners
Opihi (Hawaiian Limpet) Monitoring Project Goals Develop a standardized opihi monitoring protocol utilizing traditional and local knowledge, and contemporary scientific knowledge Generate information to inform on the ground management of opihi to ensure its sustainable harvest Protocol Design surveys and quantifies opihi assemblages, densities, community structure, habitat type, rigosity, and size class traditional knowledge utilized to characterize optimal habitat and abundances; recovery, and the selection of field survey sites monitoring protocol works in tandem with opihi genetic(basic life history) work
Papahanaumokuakea s World Heritage Nomination PMNM placed on U.S. Tentative List for World Heritage in 2007. Secretary of Interior selected PMNM as one of two sites to develop a full nomination PMNM nomination is for mixed (natural and cultural) heritage Suzanne Canja 1 st site worldwide with cultural connections to the sea PMNM is the 1st U.S. sites nominated in nearly 18 years, and the 1st NOAA site ever nominated. James Watt
UNESCO World Heritage List List of natural and cultural heritage sites of outstanding universal value as determined by the World Heritage Convention The listing of a site does not change the ownership, sovereignty, jurisdiction or control of a site by the nation nominating it; nor does it convey ownership, jurisdiction or control to the United Nations, UNESCO, or any other international organization. Listing documents the international recognition of the value of a site and the commitment of the sovereign nation and the site s owners for its long-term protection and management under applicable domestic laws. The list currently contains 851 sites from 140 countries - 660 cultural, 166 natural, and 25 mixed natural and cultural sites. There are 20 United States sites on the World Heritage List (all National Parks)
Summary of World Heritage Nomination Package UNESCO guidelines: 9-section document Section 1: Maps and boundaries Section 2: Site description Section 3: Justification for inscription, statement of Outstanding Universal Value Section 4: Conservation status Section 5: Management of site Section 6: Monitoring Sections 7, 8, 9: Citations, preparers, signatures, etc. Approx. 300 pp., with ~4,000 pp. of Appendices on CD-ROM (includes Mgmt. Plan)
World Heritage Nomination Package Review Review Process to Date Multiple iterative, parallel reviews among subject experts and agency staff UNESCO Technical Review Native Hawaiian review: Community consultation Review of cultural material Peer review Academia, agency, other Local to international Agency review (State of Hawaii, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, NOAA FWS, NPS) NOAA OMAO
UNESCO Submission & Review Process Dept. of State Submission to WH Centre by Feb. 1, 2009 WH Centre review: 18 months IUCN (Natural resources) review + Site visit ICOMOS (Cultural resources) review + Site visit IUCN & ICOMOS Recommendations to WH Committee: early 2010 WH Committee Decision: July 2010 (inscription)
Acknowledgements It is the ocean, not the land, that unites humanity. Myron Pinky Thompson